Photo by Josh Hedges/Mike Roach/UFC
Decorated Brazilian Ji-Jitsu champion, and current Strikeforce light heavyweight, Roger Gracie (4-1) is looking to sharpen his fight game outside of submissions, and is reportedly in talks with the Black House MMA gym according to team manager Jorge Guimaraes.
The Black House team is home to such fighters as UFC champion Anderson Silva, former champs Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Lyoto Machida, and Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante along with a long list of famous fighters.
Guimaraes says Gracie is in talks with him, and fellow Black House manager Ed Soares, with only the “little details” to be worked out between the two sides.
“It’s not sure yet, we’re working on the little details”, explains Jorge, who is friends with Roger’s father, the coral belt Mauricio Gomes, decades ago. “His father is my friend from Rolls Gracie time, he’s someone I really like and I really care for Roger. I guess Roger is an example, not only as a fighter, but as a person. I’ll do everything I can do for him, it’ll be a challenge for me”.
Guimaraes is the responsible for managing names like Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida, the Nogueira brothers, and he is excited about the possibility of managing the greatest BJJ champion of all times.
“To me, he has all the tools to build up a great MMA career, he just need some work, focused. I’m sure he’ll be a tough one to fight in MMA”, compliments the manager, revealing the possibility of Roger dropping to the middleweight division. “He’s considering dropping, but it’s not set in stone yet”.
As noted by Guiamaes, Gracie is considering a drop to 185-lbs in the future after competing three times as a light heavyweight fighter in the Strikeforce cage.
Gracie’s most recent bout took place last September and saw him lose by first round knockout to former Strikeforce champ Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal at the Barnett vs. Kharitonov event.